Gennaro

This fits the news reports of late. Though I give credit that plenty of security is in place. Hopefully this will relax any second thoughts on the part of would be visitors.

Sean Cavendish

Considering the fact that Mexico City is now the kidnapping capital of this hemisphere (or was that the world?), I should think that police in riot gear might be a comforting site. Until Mexico’s government stops encouraging illegal emigration into the USA, I consider Mexico our enemy and would rather suffer 30 days of dry heaves than visit any Mexican city, esp. the capital.

Jen@Heading North after Nptime

This would definitely concern me too!!! When we were in Berlin a few years ago, all the cop cars appeared at the hotel next to ours…we were def. worried…turns out the Prime Minister of England was visiting!

Jessie Voigts

you’re right – you never want to see this when you travel. on the other hand, good to be safe.

Beth Whitman

It’s things like this that put all the fun in travel, though, isn’t it?

Lauren

When I was in Mexico City 16 months ago now, I experienced the same thing. I felt uneasy that the police were there, not that there was actually any potential for violence in the peaceful demonstration that was taking place at the zocolo. The people I talked with told me that it is classic police intimidation and a regular occurrence.

chris2x

I can’t say you and I are on the same wavelength. Just think of it this way, my tourism dollars were enabling some Mexicans to stay home and make a living which is what most would prefer in any case. I have talked to Mexicans at the border about to sneak into the U.S. (technically back into the U.S. where they had worked for years). The decision to come to the U.S. is economic.

chris2x

By the way the second most popular city in the world for kidnapping is Phoenix, Arizona.

Debbie Dubrow

When we were in Cambodia and Burma, one of the comments we heard routinely from locals was that they wanted the tourists there – not just because of the money, but because the international presence quelled some of the more outrageous behavior from the government.

We experienced that first hand in Burma when our bus was stopped, everyone was asked to step off, and the bus was searched – we will never know for sure, but we’re fairly certain that the whole experience was more gentle and less dramatic because foreigners were on board.

Dominique

I think I’d consider exploring another part of town, too!

We were in Quebec city one Canada Day and suddenly found ourselves directly between a batch of soldiers dressed in ceremonial garb (think red coats, tall beaver hats) for a Canada Day parade and a group of angry separatists…it’s like they materialized out of nowhere. That sort of experience is at least a little unsettling if you’re not entirely sure what is going on…or what might happen.